Overview

Paralegals are an integral part of the legal process enhancing the delivery of legal services and access to justice.

The Professional Legal Studies Program (PLS) from Western Kentucky University is designed to provide students with an interdisciplinary educational experience integrating knowledge and skills from multiple subjects including law, history, sociology, political science, technology and business.

The PLS Program requires 42 credit hours and leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. Degrees will be awarded to those students who complete all requirements with an overall grade point average of 2.0 (out of 4.0) and receive a grade of “C” or better in all PLS courses.

The objectives of the Professional Legal Studies Program are:

To create, implement, and maintain a strong, flexible program directed to the quality education of occupationally-competent paralegals;
To provide a paralegal education program that leads to employment of its graduates by a wide range of employers;
To provide paralegals with a well-rounded, balanced education founded on a beneficial mix of general education, theory, and practical courses stressing understanding and reasoning rather than rote learning of facts;
To support federal, Kentucky and local Rules of Procedure and general principles of ethical legal practice, professional responsibility, the prohibitions against the unauthorized practice of law by non-lawyers, and the use and supervision of paralegals by lawyers;
To provide an educational program that is responsive to the varied needs of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the region and contributes to the overall advancement of the legal profession and access to justice;
To provide a program which instills respect for the legal profession and its foundations, institutions, and quest for justice; and
To maintain equality of opportunity in the educational program without discrimination or segregation on the grounds of race, color, religion, natural origin, gender, age, disability or economic need.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Criminal Law and Procedure
Constitutional Law
Women and the Law
Contract Law
Tort Law
Sociology of Criminal Law

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2025-08-19 00:00:00
- Apply before 2024-12-01 00:00:00

Language

English

TOEFL^® IBT

Credits

120 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Disciplines

Criminal Law Legal Studies Public Policy View 363 other Bachelors in Public Policy in United States

Academic requirements

GPA

2.5

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

Student insurance

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following:

Additional medical costs (i.e. dental)
Repatriation, if something happens to you or your family
Liability
Home contents and baggage
Accidents
Legal aid

We partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

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Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at Western Kentucky University and/or in United States, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Other requirements

General requirements

A completed application (open WKU application for admission)
Minimum academic requirements: Freshmen: 2.5 GPA / Transfer:* 2.0 GPA
*Students with 24 or more earned hours of college credit
English proficiency requirements
$75 non-refundable application fee
Official Academic Records from schools attended with grades and any degrees/diplomas/certificates received. Should also include a literal English translation.
Financial Evidence of Support must be provided to obtain an I-20
Students transferring from within the US will need to fill out the Transfer-In Form

Tuition Fee

To always see correct tuition fees

International

27000 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 27000 USD per year during 48 months.
National

28478 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 28478 USD per year during 48 months.
In-State

11436 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 11436 USD per year during 48 months.

Living costs for Bowling Green

900 - 1400 USD /month

Living costs

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Professional Legal Studies.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

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